QPR Draw 3-3 at home to Norwich with an Injury-Time Equalizer...Reports & Comments

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QPR OFFICIAL SITEMartin Rowlands bagged a last gasp equaliser, as honours finished even in a six-goal thriller at Loftus Road.
Rowlands bagged his second goal of the contest in the second minute of added time, as the R's fought back twice to claim a point against the managerless Canaries.
Robert Earnshaw looked like breaking QPR hearts when he put Norwich 3-2 in front from the penalty spot with just eight minutes remaining, after Dion Dublin had earlier put the visitors on terms with his first Norwich goal.
In truth, a draw was a fair reflection, at the end of a truly absorbing contest in W12.
Despite trailing early on, Rangers led 2-1 at the break courtesy of a stunning strike from debutant Jimmy Smith and a trademark Rowlands free-kick.
Darren Huckerby bagged the opening goal of the game on three minutes, finishing with aplomb from 15-yards.

Undeterred, the R's were on terms midway through the half when Smith capped a promising home debut with a textbook strike from the edge of the box.

Both sides went in search of a second goal in a lively end to the half, yet despite the best efforts of Robert Earnshaw at one end, and Dexter Blackstock at the other, it seemed destined to remain 1-1.

But Rowlands had other ideas, smashing home a fearsome free-kick to put the R's in front on the stroke of half-time.

John Gregory handed Chelsea loanee Smith his first start in a QPR jersey, while Steve Lomas replaced Matthew Rose at right-back.

In his first and in all likelihood last match in Caretaker charge of the Canaries, Martin Hunter was able to recall Club Captain Adam Drury from injury, but there was no place in the starting XI for veteran front-man Dion Dublin.

Norwich and Hunter got off to the dream start inside three minutes, when Huckerby latched onto an innocuous through ball before sliding the ball under the exposed Paul Jones.

Undeterred, Rangers' first shot on target arrived 60 seconds later, but debutant Smith failed to generate enough power to trouble Canaries custodian Paul Gallagher.

Buoyed by the goal, Norwich continued to pose the greater attacking threat, with Huckerby's in-swinging corner forcing Jones to punch clear from under his own bar.

Jones was in the right place at the right time again on 11 minutes, flinging himself full stretch to his right to tip round Earnshaw's goal-bound header.

It was a truly stunning stop from the veteran keeper, as the Welshman instantly repaid the faith shown in him by his manager despite his International woes last weekend.

The R's grew in stature as the half wore on and when Damion Stewart found Cook with a searching cross-field ball on 22 minutes, the R's winger lashed a speculative 25-yard drive wide of Gallagher's right hand post.

The goal the R's improved performance deserved duly arrived on 24 minutes and it was a Chelsea player who got it!

Cook's sublime lay-off fell perfectly into the path of Smith, who delivered a composed finish from the edge of the 18-yard box.

It was a classic strike from the teenage midfielder, with comparisons to his Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard being made almost instantaneously in the press box.

As an entertaining half drew to a conclusion, livewire Earnshaw curled a free-kick inches over the bar, while Blackstock thrashed a ferocious left foot volley inches over the bar with Gallagher seemingly beaten all ends up.

But there was still time for another twist in the tale after Blackstock was fouled on the edge of the box by Jason Shackell.

Cook rolled the ball into the path of Rowlands, who smashed an unstoppable right footed strike past the despairing dive of Gallagher.

Rangers picked up from where they left off at the start of the second half and after Zesh Rehman fed Rowlands in acres of space on the right wing, the hardworking midfielder called Gallagher into action with a superb save with his feet.

The action was relentless and after Rangers had vocal appeals for a spot-kick waved away when Smith's blockbuster volley appeared to strike Shackell's hand, Norwich broke at pace and Jones denied his Welsh compatriot Earnshaw with another stunning finger-tip save.

Smith had yet another penalty appeal turned down on 52 minutes, when his close tricky completely fooled a Norwich defender, only for referee Mr Marriner to wave away his claims.

Lee Croft squandered arguably the easiest chance he'll ever get as a professional footballer 60 seconds later, somehow scuffing the ball wide from two yards out, with the goal at his mercy.

If Paul Robinson felt bad after his error against Croatia in midweek, Croft was surely waiting for the ground to swallow him up.

Smith's action-packed debut took another twist when he rather harshly received a yellow card for handball, but thankfully for the R's, Earnshaw's resultant free-kick flew well wide of Jones' left hand post.

A fourth goal was in the offing and when Ray Jones out-jumped Gallagher, only a sensational goal-line clearance from Jurgen Colin denied the teenage front-man his third goal in as many matches.

Rangers were playing some superb passing football at times, to the delight of a season's best crowd of 14,793.

Hunter threw caution to the wind midway through the half, sending on Dublin in place of Carl Robinson and reverting to a 4-4-2 formation.

But it was Rangers who continued to throw men forward, with Jones just failing to connect with Blackstock's nod down after more wizardry from Cook.

Yet despite seeing the R's create the better goalscoring opportunities, it was Norwich who bagged the fourth goal of an amazing contest on 71 minutes.

Former Manchester United and Coventry striker Dublin arrived bang on cue to finish a superb passing move from the visitors, to the delight of the 3,000 travelling Canary fans.

Disaster struck for the hosts eight minutes from time though when Rehman was adjudged to have sent Huckerby tumbling to ground inside the box.

Earnshaw stepped up to convert, as all thoughts harped back to the Canaries 3-2 victory at Carrow Road last year.

But Rangers are a resilient outfit under the new gaffer and when the ball broke to Rowlands at an acute angle 10-yards from goal, the midfielder beat Gallagher at his near post to send the home fans into raptures.
QPR: P Jones, Bignot, Rehman, Stewart, Lomas (Rose 90), Cook, Bircham, Smith, Rowlands, Blackstock, R Jones (Gallen 76).
Subs: Royce, Ward, Bailey.
Scorers: Smith 24, Rowlands 45 & 90
Bookings: Rehman 32, Smith 56, Lomas 80

Norwich City: Gallagher, Drury, Shackell, Fleming, Huckerby, Croft (McVeigh 86), Earnshaw, Hughes (Safri 73), Etuhu, Colin, Robinson (Dublin 66).
Subs: Camp, Jarvis.
Scorers: Huckerby 3, Dublin 71, Earnshaw 82
Bookings: Shackell 45
Attendance: 14, 793
Referee: A M Marriner
QPR Official

JOHN GREGORY'S PERSPECTIVE - QPR OFFICIAL SITE
John Gregory paid tribute to debutant Jimmy Smith in the wake of the 3-3 draw with Norwich City.

Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk after seeing his side come from behind twice to grab a share of the spoils in a six-goal thriller, Gregory said: "I'm delighted for Jimmy. To score on your debut is fantastic, but there's so much more to come from him.

"The fans have seen why I brought him here today. He's box-to-box, works exceptionally hard and has great ability in the final third.''

Despite dropping his first points as R's boss, Gregory believes the positives far outweighed the negatives, at the end of what he described as a 'classic' match.

"There's a hell of a lot of positives to take, even though we've only got a point.

"It was a great game for the fans, but no so good for me and Martin Hunter.
"It was a classic - end-to-end, great goals, mistakes. But I'm just delighted that we've come out of it with a point and maintained our unbeaten run.

"I have to give great credit to the players. They put in an enormous amount of effort and energy and deserved the end reward.''

Gregory continued: "We did exceptionally well to come from behind twice, but I felt we gave the ball away all too easily in the 15 or 20 minute spell we dominated at the start of the second half.

"If we'd have taken our chances there and then, I'd be talking about another win here, instead of a point.

"It's by no means a bad point against Norwich. You take one look at their squad and collectively it's worth about £30-40 million which is staggering. There's lot of players there that know what it's about at this level.

Gregory also took time out ot praise goalkeeper Paul Jones, adding: "Jonah's had a tough few days but he showed what he's all about with some of those saves.''
QPR OFFICIAL SITE

NORWICH OFFICIAL SITE
QPR 3-3 NORWICH CITY

AN injury time goal from Martin Rowlands denied City their first away league win of the season.

City had been defending a 3-2 lead in injury time, given to them just seven minutes earlier thanks to Robert Earnshaw's penalty.

But with five minutes of injury time signalled moments earlier, Martin Rowlands managed to squeeze in an equaliser at Gallacher's near post to bring back memories of the game at Southend last month.

All the same, it was a hugely entertaining game for both sets of fans on a day when a new era was ushered in at Carrow Road.

City had taken the lead as early as the fourth minute when Huckerby went through to finish neatly from close range.

But QPR went into the break ahead, first Jimmy Smith smashing home before Martin Rowlands struck a free kick on the stroke of half time.

After the break a switch to 4-4-2 proved inspired, with substitute Dion Dublin levelling things after Andy Hughes' neat pull-back.

And Earnshaw's penalty looked to have won it for City, but it was not to be.

City caretaker boss Martin Hunter took charge of the Canaries for the first and last time at Loftus Road with the Canaries in desperate search of three points to revitalise their stuttering campaign.

With new manager Peter Grant watching from the stands, Hunter reverted to a 4-3-3 formation, with Huckerby, Croft and Earnshaw at the sharp end.

Jason Shackell was recalled in place of the suspended Gary Doherty, with Andy Hughes taking the place of Youssef Safri, who had to be content with a place on the bench after recovering from a calf strain.

Skipper Adam Drury was back in the side after his ankle operation in place of on-loan Everton youngster Patrick Boyle.

It was a sprightly start for City and they took the lead in the fourth minute.

The chance came from a slick passing move involving Drury, Robinson and Etuhu, with the latter firing the ball into the feet of Croft on the edge of the area.

Darren Huckerby

GOAL: Hucks celebrates his strike

His touch fell to Huckerby on the overlap on the edge of the area and he took one touch before firing beneath Paul Jones for his third of the season.

It was a great start for City and the perfect way to signal a new era for the Club.

The goal certainly seemed to lift Norwich, backed by a vociferous away following, which was some 2,800 strong.

Croft in particular was causing all sorts of problems for the Rangers' defence, with his trickery creating plenty of pressure in the opposition half.

And on 12 minutes only a brilliant save by Jones kept the scoreline at 1-0.

Huckerby's mis-hit corner from the right was cleared back to his feet, and he whipped in a great ball with his left foot which found Earnshaw unmarked 12 yards out.

His header looked to be heading for the bottom corner, but the Welsh international dived down to his right brilliantly to push it to safety.

It wasn't all one way traffic though, with the home side looking particularly dangerous from set plays.

On 16 minutes Lee Cook whipped in a great ball from the right, but Gallacher was on his toes well to grab the ball off the head of Blackstock as he homed in.

On 20 minutes City had appeals for a penalty waved away after a swift counter-attack following a Rangers' corner.

Huckerby brought the ball clear down the left before finding Earnshaw 20 yards from goal.

He neatly flicked the ball back into the path of Croft, and while he was certainly brought to the ground by Rehman, the former City loan man clearly took the ball, with the home fans furious with appeals to win a spot kick.

Two minutes later and QPR came within a few yards of grabbing an equaliser.

Lee Cook had already enjoyed limited success against the City defence, and he cut inside Drury before launching a wicked shot, which arched over the angle of post and bar.

But the let off proved short-lived as they levelled things in the 24th minute.

Jimmy Smith was awarded far too much space on the edge of the area, and he wasted no time in picking his spot beyond the despairing dive of Gallacher.

It was now the home side in the ascendancy, and on 28 minutes they wasted a gift-wrapped opportunity to take the lead.

Gallacher came out and punched unconvincingly at a hopeful hoof forward, with the ball falling straight at the feet of Cook just inside the area.

But the winger scuffed his effort horribly, allowing a desperate City defence to hack clear.

On 33 minutes Rehman earned himself the first card of the afternoon for hauling down Earnshaw just outside the D.

The striker dusted himself down to flick the resulting free kick over the wall and onto the roof of Jones' net.

On 40 minutes the home side came within a whisker of taking the lead.

A corner from the right was only cleared to the edge of the box, and Dexter Blackstock struck a fierce right-foot volley which flew inches over.

As the half drew to a close Shackell was given a yellow card after knocking down Blackstock on the edge of the area as he threatened to spring clear.

And it proved a costly free kick to give away as the ball was rolled sideways to Martin Rowland who fired a right-foot shot through the wall and into the back of the net.

It was a gutting way to finish the half for City, who had put in a bright display in the first 45 minutes.

Half time: QPR 2-1 Norwich City

Both teams kicked off the second half unchanged, with City looking to get back on level terms following the sucker punch seconds before the interval.

But it was the home side who created the first clear opening of the second period on 47 minutes.

Rowlands turned Drury inside-out on the left and created a shooting chance for himself inside the box.

Fortunately, Gallacher stood up well at his near post and deflected the ball to safety with his legs.

Two minutes later and it was his opposite number producing heroics.

After QPR had appeals for handball in the box waved away, a long clearance was picked up by Earnshaw just inside the box.

He flicked the ball over the head of Damien Stewart before unleashing a volley which his Welsh international team mate blocked at full stretch.

But on 54 minutes Croft wasted an amazing opportunity to equalise with one of the misses of the season.

Huckerby's low ball into the box was perfect for the former Manchester City man, and after nicking the ball around Jones he seemed to have a simple tap-in.

But he inexplicably shanked his left-foot toe-poke wide of the near post when a goal seemed a certainty.

It was certainly a moment Croft would want to forget - harsh considering he had been one of Norwich's brightest performers so far in the match.

On 58 minutes Smith was booked for a deliberate handball on the edge of the area, blocking a shot by Carl Robinson.

From the free-kick, Earnshaw curled a shot around the wall but just wide of Jones' left post.

On 62 minutes Jurgen Colin had to be alert to clear off his own goal line. Gallacher again was unconvincing coming off his line, weakly punching the ball straight to Stewart.

His header was goal-bound, but Colin had kept his position from an earlier corner and nodded the ball to safety.

On 67 minutes Hunter made his first change, switching to 4-4-2 and replacing Robinson with Dion Dublin.

And four minutes later the change paid dividends - with the former Coventry star bagging his first goal for City.

The chance came after Earnshaw broke the offside trap, darting into space down the right.

He played the ball infield to Croft, who found Hughes overlapping. And his cut-back was inch perfect for Dublin, who steamed in to smash Norwich level from 10-yards out.

It was to be Hughes' last major contribution, with the midfielder hobbling off on 74 minutes to be replaced by Youssef Safri.

City now had their backs up and on 78 minutes Huckerby embarked on a typical 70 yard run, finishing with a low shot straight into Jones' arms.

But on 84 minutes CIty were handed the perfect chance to regain the lead when they were awarded a penalty.

Huckerby had skipped past Rehman on the byline and looked set to pull the ball back to Earnshaw for a simple tap-in.

But Rehman simply dragged down Huckerby as he looked to make the pass, giving the referee no option but to point to the spot.

And up stepped Earnshaw to place the ball beyond the grasp of Jones to claim his ninth goal in 11 games.

With three minutes left City made their final change, replacing Croft with Paul McVeigh.

But with five minutes injury time signalled QPR were handed a lifeline - and they grasped it with both hands.

The angle looked to be tight as Rowlands collected the ball near the byline. But his near post shot somehow evaded the grasp of Gallacher and bobbled over the line to provide a sting in the tale for City.

Full time: QPR 3-3 Norwich City
Norwich

NORWICH COMMENT
HUNTER DISAPPOINTED WITH DRAW

CITY caretaker boss Martin Hunter's first and last game in charge of Norwich City was an eventful one as he watched his players play out an eventful 3-3 draw.

Only a last-gasp equaliser from Martin Rowlands denied City their first league win away from home this season after goals from Darren Huckerby, Dion Dublin and Robert Earnshaw had fired City into a 3-2 lead.

But Rowlands provided a sting in the tale for the travelling faithful, and Hunter - who will be relieved from his managerial duties by Peter Grant on Monday - said they should have been celebrating three points.

"There was plenty of passion but we are not pleased with the final result," he said.

"Some parts of the game, particularly the first 20 minutes were very good. We were back to what we know we can do. But we need to do it for longer periods of time. However, it's a step in the right direction."

And Hunter said, for him, there were two crucial moments which influenced the game.

"For me, there were two critical moments," he said. "The two saves from Paul Jones - the one from Earnie's header in the first half and the one from point blank range in the second.
"Overall, I'm pleased. But there's obviously a lot of work to be do.
Norwich

BBC - QPR 3-3 Norwich
Martin Rowlands struck in injury time to earn a point for QPR in a six-goal thriller at Loftus Road.
Darren Huckerby's early strike put Norwich ahead before on-loan Chelsea midfielder Jimmy Smith and Rowlands netted to give Rangers hope.

Substitute Dion Dublin's 71st-minute effort squared the game again before Robert Earnshaw put Norwich ahead again with a late penalty.

But Rowlands then netted again from an acute angle to snatch a late QPR point.
BBC

Sporting Life QPR 3 Norwich 3
By Tom Collomosse, PA Sport
Martin Rowlands struck in injury time to earn a point for QPR and ensure a thrilling game ended all square.

The winger's double - he also gave Rangers a 2-1 lead with a late strike in the first half - denied Martin Hunter a win in what is likely to be his only game as Norwich caretaker-manager.

Norwich are almost certain to appoint Peter Grant as Nigel Worthington's full-time successor on Monday, but it was caretaker-boss Hunter who took charge today - and he was so close to claiming a victory.

Darren Huckerby's early strike had put Norwich in front before goals from on-loan Chelsea midfielder Jimmy Smith and Rowlands turned the match in QPR's favour.

But substitute Dion Dublin's 71st-minute effort squared the game again, and Robert Earnshaw put Norwich ahead again with a late penalty before Rowlands' stoppage-time intervention.

Norwich took the lead after only three minutes - with a helping hand from the Rangers defence.

Distracted by the presence of Robert Earnshaw, Zesh Rehman failed to deal with Carl Robinson's through-ball, allowing Huckerby to collect it and slide the ball under Paul Jones.

The tide turned when Lee Cook, Rangers' most inventive player, played a superbly disguised pass from the left, allowing Smith time and space to equalise impressively from the edge of the penalty area in the 24th minute.

Then, in stoppage time, Marc Bircham took a short free-kick to Rowlands, who smashed it beyond Paul Gallacher from 20 yards to put Rangers in front.

Rowlands, who was having an excellent match, almost scored his second in the 48th minute, but Gallacher saved with his legs after the Rangers midfielder had tricked his way past Adam Drury and struck an angled shot.

Gallacher was having problems with the high ball and, after he had failed to claim another ball, Jason Shackell was forced to nod Ray Jones' looping header off the line.

Shortly before that, Lee Croft somehow shot wide of an open goal after he had rounded Paul Jones - to the delight of the home fans.

In the 67th minute, Norwich brought on Dublin - and the former England striker equalised four minutes later, his calm finish ending a brilliant four-man move involving Earnshaw, Croft and Andy Hughes.

Norwich looked to have claimed the points in the 83rd minute when Zesh Rehman pulled back Huckerby inside the box, and Earnshaw guided his spot-kick just beyond Paul Jones' dive.

But with the Norwich defence ragged, Rowlands beat Gallacher at his near post with a low drive from an acute angle in stoppage time.
Sporting Life